3.1 Setting questions


The majority of cases of tuberculosis were discovered during the visit of the patient to the doctors of general practice (GPs). The doctor of any specialty, must remember about prevalence of tuberculosis among the population and his (her) possible presence at the given patient, should set to him the following questions:

  1. Whether given patient was ill by tuberculosis earlier?
  2. Whether his (her) relatives were ill by tuberculosis?
  3. Whether the patient had contact to tuberculosis patients or animals (household, professional, industrial contact)?
  4. Whether the patient is registered in tuberculosis dispensary in any occasion: tuberculin testing or hyperergic reaction on the test, contact to the tuberculosis patients, not clear diagnosis, tuberculosis?
  5. Whether the patient was examined with use of X-rays?
  6. Whether the patient was invited after X-ray examination for additional research?
  7. Whether he was living with patient, or persons living with him were in prison?
  8. Whether the given patient is homeless, refugee, migrant or being in unfavorable social conditions?

AIDS has become one of the powerful factors, increasing risk of tubercular infection In the latest years. Among persons, simultaneously infected with HIV and MBT the risk of tuberculosis development during life is made 50%. With progressing HIV infection immune system gets less capable to prevent MBT growth.

Gathering anamnesis it is necessary to pay attention to the frequency of the repeated respiratory infections. This phenomenon is described usually as common cold. If the patient transferred influenza, but his body temperature is still sub febrile, for a long time there is a cough, indisposition, it is necessary to think that it was not influenza, but one of the tuberculosis manifestations. If the patient has survived exudative or dry pleuritis, it can testify the presence of primary tuberculosis. Obtaining anamnesis among teenagers, adults and elderly people it is extremely important to find out, whether they had chronic conjunctivitis, erythema nodosum, and other poorly displayed tubercular intoxication. Gathering anamnesis, it is necessary to find out, when tuberculin test for the first time has appeared positive. After well-assembled anamnesis, it is easier for the doctor to prolong examination using basic attributes, which would confirm his assumption of presence of tubercular process.

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